Knowing Your Insurance Options

“Routine/Vision” Exam vs. Medical Exam?
What is the difference?

At Conrad Eye Centers the health of your eyes is our top priority, and since Dr. Conrad is an ophthalmologist we are able to use your medical insurance to perform in-depth and very detailed examinations of your eyes. However, it is important to know the difference between a medical eye exam and a “routine” vision exam as most insurance plans provide for medical, vision, or both, but almost never within the same appointment.

Medical Eye Exam

A medical eye exam focuses on the health of your eye with emphasis on determining if any eye diseases are present or if any systemic diseases such as diabetes are affecting the eyes. Anytime there is a concern about an infection, injury, disease, or physician consultation involved a medical eye exam will be performed and thus your medical insurance will be utilized. Medical exams usually include dilation so Dr. Conrad can get a detailed look at the sensitive nerves of the retina. Other tests may be performed and/or scheduled during a medical exam as determined by Dr. Conrad.

Routine/Vision Exam

A “routine/vision” exam focuses on the refractive state and general health of the eye. This means Dr. Conrad will check your eyes for refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (inability to see things up close as you age), and astigmatism (poor vision due to corneal shape). A routine exam is centered around getting you set up with the perfect glasses or contact lens prescription to give you the best vision possible.

Why Should You Care?
Many patients have both medical and vision insurance. We are required to use the most appropriate insurance for each specific visit. We value both your eye health and visual comfort, so if you do have medical and vision insurance plans we are happy to conduct both exams on separate days to make maximum use of your benefits. We understand how confusing insurance plans and benefits can be, and that is why we have expertly trained staff ready to answer any questions you may have and schedule your next appointment to get the most for your specific plan.

Popular Accepted Insurance Plans

It is our mission to provide comprehensive personalized eye care to those who seek it, so we accept the majority of all vision and medical insurance plans. For your convenience we have provided a list of some of our most frequent insurance options. If you do not see your specific carrier please do not hesitate to call and one of our friendly staff will be happy to check on your coverage for you.